State to spend $43.2 million to ease I-95 traffic in Norwalk

Martin B. Cassidy

Published 2:57 pm, Sunday, April 15, 2012

The state expects to soon finalize the award of a $43.2 million contract for long-awaited work to add speed change lanes and alleviate traffic between Exits 14 and 15 next week in Norwalk to O&G Industries of Torrington.

The sluggish flow of traffic through the area has hurt businesses along Route 1 in Norwalk as well as further south on the I-95 corridor, Duff said.

"These are improvements which have been needed for a long time, and I know the governor is very excited to see this moving forward," Duff said.

Traffic between the two exits is often bumper-to-bumper, from mid-afternoon into the evening. A report earlier this fall by the Southwestern Regional Planning Authority measured travel during the 7 to 9 a.m. period between Exits 16 and 14 southbound at 20 mph.

Off the highway, sidewalks will also be added along Route 1 from Exit 14 northward to near Clinton Avenue to help businesses, according to the DOT's plans.

In addition to improving traffic flow, the work will also install a new drainage system starting near Exit 14 that will collect water and pull it north to a 25-foot retention basin to be built near Exit 16.